Chelsea midfielder with perfect duels record and 98% passing is becoming undroppable | OneFootball

We all predicted that Andrey Santos would be one of the big winners from Liam Rosenior being appointed as Chelsea’s new manager, but it’s gone perhaps even better than he will have hoped.

The midfielder has started 6 of the 8 game under the new boss, and looks really comfortable in the double pivot alongside Moises Caicedo. Last night the Brazilian was excellent, and certainly didn’t deserve to be on the losing side of the game.

Santos competes with physical Arsenal and keeps ball moving

Andrey Santos against Man City. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Up against one of the most physically dominant teams around, Santos won all 3 of his duels. 

He completed 43 of his 44 passes as he sat deep in the first half alongside Caicedo controlling the game. It was largely sideways stuff – he played just 3 passes into the final third. But he was just following the manager’s instructions.

Despite these good performances, there are major tactical questions remaining for Liam Rosenior. How does he fit Santos, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer into the same starting XI, without just pushing Palmer out to the right?

The attacker’s lack of full fitness has allowed Rosenior to dodge this question pretty effectively so far, but it’s a pressing concern which isn’t going anywhere.

It says a lot that you won’t find many fans whose solution is “drop Santos.” He’s really establishing himself as an untouchable presence in this side as the weeks go by.

In other news…

Late fitness issues in the group meant that Liam Rosenior had to change his usual pattern of naming the team the day before the game, he revealed last night.

Wesley Fofana is now our highest rated player for the season statistically, overtaking even the impressive Moises Caicedo and reminding us all of how good the defender is.